Discovering Destiny (Part 86): What Was Meant to Finish You Will Lift You
Today, we continue our focus on THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY, as we learn to maintain our posture of faith after God has revealed His plans for our future. Yesterday, God shut the lions' mouths, and Daniel came out of the den without a scratch. Today, we see what happened next. Daniel's accusers fall into the very trap they set; a pagan king writes a letter to the whole world about Daniel's God; and the Bible closes the chapter with five powerful words: "So Daniel prospered." Daniel shows us that...
![God Sees The Wounds Nobody Else Can See.
Nobody on Mount Carmel would have guessed what Elijah was carrying. They saw the fire. They saw the victory. They saw the great prophet. They did not see the man under the tree. A lot of veterans live right there. They came home, they went back to work, they smile at the cookout, and nobody knows what goes on at two o'clock in the morning. That is the war after the war. But the God who saw Elijah under that tree sees you too. The Bible says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."
How this applies to you:
-- You can be strong and wounded at the same time.
-- Elijah was one of the boldest men in the Bible, and he still got to the place where he wanted to die. If it happened to Elijah, it can happen to anyone, so there is no shame in it.
-- When I came home from Iraq the last time, I battled depression. I never really talk about it publicly, but it was no joke. Mental health challenges can break you on the inside, while you look just fine on the outside. During my last deployment, while I was running the network, I was also a Pastor on Victory Base in Baghdad, but like Elijah, I still came home and battled depression. So, once again, it can happen to anyone.
-- God did not rebuke Elijah for what he said under that tree. He is not offended by your honesty, so tell Him the truth.
-- Some wounds never earn a Purple Heart, but God sees every one of them, and He can heal invisible wounds.
-- The Bible says, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows]." God does not just see the wound. He binds it up.
-- Isaiah said God will keep you "in perfect and constant peace" when your mind is stayed on Him. The memories may be loud, but His peace is stronger than your memories.
-- What you saw, what you did, and what you lost did not disqualify you from the love of God.
-- The same God who saw Elijah under that tree sees you at two o'clock in the morning. You were never invisible to Him on the battlefield, and you are not invisible to Him now.
-- Nobody else may see it, but God does. And what God sees, God can heal.](https://scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/902251549_18648002206043036_8088086641824417565_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&_nc_map=urlgen_bucketless&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=WRPuhg-AIUMQ7kNvwHtWCp9&_nc_oc=AdpI_p7wU9ZzEvCIbFdwFKSfC0aVxam05Wgb5XSNBegvg8gk_Gsw1AaciaaMuBNmwf4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=RymV5OUVVnXgp-LgaJVGLg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQJfFscPXWRors19jWOR_Bl28LLY1AIPTo7AMi43L73_bz69lCYk70vLLNlJOewC500Zyj7O_0dz&_nc_ct=RQosPBUKFQIAAAA&oh=00_AQTmcz6bKtmZPNgdULoyLGTwQ3ubniIVoA9cmOrHjKlChg&oe=6AFD6616)
![Grace Produces Excellence, Not Laziness.
The Bible does not say Daniel was promoted because of his connections, his age, or his seniority. It says he was distinguished "because an excellent spirit was in him." Daniel's excellence was not just a skill set; it was a spirit. It came from the inside out. That excellent spirit was the grace of God on Daniel's life, showing up in the way he did his job.
How this applies to you:
-- I've told you many times that grace is not a license for laziness; it is an empowerment to prosper and to glorify God.
-- Paul said, "I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me." Grace did not make Paul lazy. Grace made Paul productive.
-- Excellence is not perfectionism. Perfectionism is driven by the fear of failure, but excellence is driven by the grace of God and a desire to honor Him.
-- When God's grace is on your life, you will find yourself producing at a level that surprises even you.
-- Paul said, "Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others." You don't work for the paycheck or for the boss; you work as unto the Lord.
-- Daniel studied the language and literature of Babylon for three years before he ever served the king. God's grace multiplies your preparation; it does not excuse you from it.
-- Excellence attracts favor, because God loves to open doors for people who are ready to walk through them. But just don’t be surprised when that same favor attracts opposition.](https://scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/892812926_18647291455043036_7516092332798262850_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&_nc_map=urlgen_bucketless&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=i_FdSRhkF0sQ7kNvwGKI1jt&_nc_oc=Adod9irDWsDVW3k7pYJhYB1zvM-doblxEQp_iFjGkpRviPsZkg1HApIsGR3-hRSe0KQ&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=RymV5OUVVnXgp-LgaJVGLg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQKswOOdIEwsYG_KeZbmF3MBA2q-ncH5JnPBZxRrhLcFsLDNMIctKILVjTNQh4b9AH4tphIZlaC7&_nc_ct=RQosPBUKFQIAAAA&oh=00_AQT2e95eYeyIrLrXBzL_p_0sWGzMa4LUhd8gPopJsp3ENQ&oe=6AFD72B8)
![Life Takes On Divine Meaning When Your Only Motivation Is God’s Purpose.
Belshazzar offered Daniel the only things he had to offer: money, power, and position. Earlier in his life, Daniel might have been tempted by gifts like that. But Daniel had already served the greatest king on earth, and he had already experienced money, power, and influence. Daniel was already blessed, and he was not moved by the king's offer. He said, "You can keep your gifts for yourself, or you can give them to someone else. But I will still read the writing on the wall."
-- When you have never had something, the mere thought of having it can motivate you to chase it. But when God has blessed you, you stop chasing things, and things start chasing you.
-- Paul said God "richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment." God is okay with you having things, just as long as things don't have you.
-- Jesus said, "Constantly seek God's kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly." Seek Him, and He will see to it that things pursue you.
-- Money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master.
-- If a reward can move you, then a bribe can move you too.
-- Solomon said, "Choose a good reputation over great riches." Your name is worth more than your net worth.
-- The truth has to matter more to you than the money. If you lie to get it, you will have to keep lying to keep it.
-- At some point in your walk with God, your life can't be about money anymore. It has to be about purpose.
-- Daniel turned down the gifts and still did the work, because he was only moved by God and by what God led him to do.
-- God can bless you to the point where the things of this world no longer tempt you. You can get to the point where your only motivation is what you believe God wants you to do. I'm at that point in my life. When you get there, it is truly liberating to know that you're only being led by what you believe God is leading you to do. You're not chasing money. You're not chasing power, positions, titles, or fame. Your life is truly about purpose, and you pursue that purpose by God's grace.](https://scontent-sea5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/886976452_18646244890043036_6342731561470363696_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=110&_nc_map=urlgen_bucketless&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiRkVFRC5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=6FyG65_4hjMQ7kNvwG1OdKi&_nc_oc=AdqCTMJW3U2LxcqTt3IXi7vDg9PmRsoPryEooaTAjAncpN3F25vThuJOQUuL6IfKjGg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea5-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=RymV5OUVVnXgp-LgaJVGLg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQJrcKsr7w_MKqLuwDlJJSq6J-QlEK7nlFsdq6NdaKhv9vSvMW94KWMootWe1wq7LGFNLgaBXo36&_nc_ct=RQosPBUKFQIAAAA&oh=00_AQRN42p0E8InrjQ-572jxw_AJpS1mMYRxYsMMOVOjaF8Fg&oe=6AFD9288)